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Starting a food business

Registering a Food Business

Registration of premises used for a food business including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures is required by law. It involves completing a simple form which details the name, address and type of food business, the food handled, the name of the food business operator, address of head office or registered office, the number of people engaged in the food business and whether or not it is a seasonal business. You should register at least 28 days before trading.

Please download the Food Business Registration Form and return to us at the address shown at the bottom. Please note, we will reinstate our online application facility once we have fully migrated to our new website.

Approval of a Food Business Establishment

Some businesses are required to be "approved" instead of being registered. Approval is similar to registration, although the business must be in receipt of written authority from us before they commence operations. Approval is granted under Regulation (EC) 853/2004.

In general, approved premises include those that handle, process or store "products of animal origin". There are many inclusions and exemptions to the regulations and each food establishment must be individually assessed to determine whether they must be approved or registered. However, if you are processing or preparing raw meat, minced meat, meat preparations, meat products, live bivalve molluscs, fishery products, raw milk and dairy products, eggs and egg products and supplying to other establishments then you are likely to require approval.

Our Environmental Health Officers are happy to visit to discuss your proposals and to explain how the law applies to your business. For more information or to obtain a registration form please Contact us.